The SME Stream

How do you feel about the prospect of paying higher income tax rates and more GST?   I think it’s inevitable. So does the Inland Revenue Department. Because of our ageing population.    Especially if people think we can have a whole lot more of us 65 and over —which is going to happen— and still provide the same level of assistance and support that is provided now....

Shoplifting and trespassing laws are expected to get a revamp this week.  Newstalk ZB understands policy changes relating to Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group recommendations are imminent. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith's previously labelled current trespassing laws as not fit for purpose.  Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Ryan Bridge the changes should deal with recid...

A draft Inland Revenue briefing supports lifting the GST rate if required - and notes tax credits could help people on lower incomes. The IRD briefing also brought up the lack of a capital gains tax, but did not endorse any specific view on it. Tax expert Geof Nightingale told Heather du Plessis-Allan that lifting GST is a fast and efficient way to raise revenue. But he says while quick, it's much...

There's excitement over expected changes to the way authorities deal with retail crime.  Newstalk ZB understands Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith will be confirming shoplifting policy changes this week, relating to Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group recommendations.  Group Chair Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking that the announcements are ones retailers across the country have been scr...

On July 1st, a series of changes are due to be implemented by the Government – and some of them will have a direct impact on your day to day. Notably, all rental properties in New Zealand must comply with healthy home standards, six years after that became law under the Labour Government. One Labour law change hasn’t survived though – that Government’s blanket speed limit r...

As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina Shrimpton each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact on your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice. This week, could the government’s 'golden visa' be the economy’s golden ticket? Oil prices take a tumble following I...

This week, Liam is joined by entrepreneur Derek Handley to discuss his varied career in the tech and startup space and how that has changed over the last two decades, and why he is now trying to get young people into their first homes faster with his latest venture, Aera. And he weighs in on the future of AI and our jobs, and his feelings about politics after the public controversy over the Labour...

This week on The Business of Tech podcast, we unpack the sixth annual 2degrees Shaping Business Study , a barometer for the mood and ambitions of Kiwi business leaders as we hit the midpoint of 2025.  The headline? Optimism is back, at its highest level since the research began, with more New Zealand companies describing themselves as thriving rather than just surviving. Optimism on the rise...

New reports reveal the Government did get lobbied by the Banking Association over a proposed law change to prevent costly class action lawsuits. Minister Scott Simpson claimed this wasn't the case earlier - and claimed the banks hadn't called for it.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain gene...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY] Craig Piggott left Rocket Lab to build cow collars and create a virtual fencing company - now Halter's technology is digitising farms and ranches around the world. Come with me to check out the company's progress in Colorado! The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any...

According to one expert, last week's GDP figures are a sign New Zealand's economy is on the up. Stats NZ says our gross domestic product grew a strong 0.8 percent in this year's first quarter. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains further, LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expres...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY] The enterprise software company DataDog is investing almost US$1b a year into artificial intelligence. Can it ride the AI wave to a higher valuation, like it did with cloud infrastructure? The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts ar...

New Zealanders are among the most underinsured in the OECD, according to the Financial Services Council.   We insure our cars, our houses and our other stuff, but not what is arguably our biggest asset - ourselves.  Givealittle fundraisers for families that have hit hard times and need help have become increasingly common. But is insurance the answer, and if so, why don’t more...

GDP figures just out are stronger than economists had forecast.  Stats NZ says New Zealand's gross domestic product grew 0.8% in the March quarter – overtaking predictions of 0.7%.  It follows a 0.5% increase the quarter before.  Herald Business Editor-at-Large Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham it could mean the OCR won't get another cut next month.  He says it raises the odds...

The Israel-Iran conflict has continued on for a week - and it's seen markets dropping as more fear the conflict intensifying. Experts also believes markets are likely to drop further if the US gets more involved in the conflict. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains the market impact of the conflict. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not f...

New data out of Stats NZ reveals the country's gross domestic product grew by 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2025. It's a stronger result than predicted by the Reserve Bank and Treasury. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann unpacks these results - and voices his concerns about the future. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not...

As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina Shrimpton each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact on your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice. This week,  GDP is on the up, but could that mean the OCR holds steady? Sick leave looks set for an overhaul, and the...

Tracy Sheen isn’t your typical artificial intelligence guru. “I am looking forward to stirring the AI pot with you, Peter,” Sheen told me at the start of an entertaining discussion on this week’s episode of The Business of Tech.  The award-winning Australian business coach and technology strategist has always been passionate about making technology accessible. Her late...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY] Valar Atomics plans to build tens of thousands of small modular nuclear reactors to power data centres and other industrial use cases across the world. This episode takes you inside its Los Angeles factory and atop its first prototype named 'Ward Zero'. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial ...

This week, CEO of The Icehouse Olivia Blaylock shares her best and worst money stories with Liam Dann - from her start in the business world, her experience running her own company, what more can be done to help entrepreneurs and business owners in NZ, and how dealing with lockdowns, the GFC and cancer in her family helped her learn what's important in running a business.  The podcasts in the...

The Finance Minister's revealed top-level legal advice was sought over the Reserve Bank's battle with Treasury for funding.  The bank received less money than it anticipated in the latest funding round - which prompted Adrian Orr to quit as Governor.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny unpacks the issue further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream con...

New Zealand businesses believe things are looking up, with optimism at a high.  The 2degrees 2025 Shaping Business Study reveals 45% of surveyed business leaders are more optimistic about the year ahead – up on last year's 34%.  46% of businesses also report they're more productive than last year.   Business Central CEO Simon Arcus told Ryan Bridge things will probably still f...

Right, let's deal to the economy.  There were two interesting things yesterday.  The first was the food price inflation number showed it is not contained.  Why it is increasing beyond broad inflation is a many and varied thing, and the upside of these numbers is we can control them to a degree.  You don’t have to buy chocolate, given cocoa is through the roof.  You d...

It's being suggested small businesses are finding it tougher to get loans than big businesses, despite being a safer option.  The latest data shows the compound annual growth rate of bank lending has slowed from 6% to 1.5% since 2013.  Small Business NZ Founder Phil Wicks told Mike Hosking most banks are making business hard.  He says lending to someone with skin in the game should...

I'll tell you what I'm gonna be watching with some interest in the next few weeks -  that employment bill that ACT has just introduced to Parliament that would make it a lot easier for employers to fire staff who earn more than $180,000 because those high earning staff would not be able to take personal grievance cases for justified dismissal. Now, I say high earning with air quotes, because...